Synthetic studies towards the novel fomannosane sesquiterpenoid illudosin: framework construction

A synthetic approach to the novel fomannosane sesquiterpene natural product illudosin 2 from the diquinane precursor 5, readily available in turn from commercial 1,5-cyclooctadiene, is delineated. The key steps are the stereoselective construction of the cis, anti, cis-tricyclo[6.2.0.02,6]decane system, strategic C-C bond disengagement through Baeyer-Villiger oxidation and functional group adjustments to deliver the carbocyclic core 18 present in the natural product

Enantioselective total synthesis of the novel tricyclic sesquiterpene (-)-sulcatine G. Absolute configuration of the natural product

An enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-sulcatine G 4 from the readily available (+)-diquinane diol 6 has been accomplished. This leads to the establishment of the absolute configuration of the natural product (+)-sulcatine G as 1

Are metabolic syndrome, obstructive sleep apnoea & syndrome Z sequential?-a hypothesis

Background & Objectives: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease and is closely associated with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Co-occurrence of both OSA and MS is called syndrome Z. It has been hypothesized that the OSA may be a manifestation of MS. We collected data on polysomnography (PSG) and biochemical investigations on middle aged urban Indians during a community based study in South Delhi while studying prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea and analysed to find out the ages at which the OSA, MS and syndrome Z exist in these subjects. Methods: A 2-stage, cross-sectional, population-based study in subjects of either gender between 30-65 yr of age in 4 different socio-economic zones of the South Delhi, India, was performed earlier (from April 2005 through June 2007). In-hospital, supervised PSG studies were performed and biochemical investigations for the MS using National Cholesterol Education Programmme Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP) III criteria were carried out. In this communication, the data were further analysed to estimate the prevalences of MS alone, OSA alone and syndrome Z and average ages of 3 conditions. Results: Three hundred and fifty one subjects had satisfactory PSG studies. The MS alone was present in 105 [29.9%; (95% CI 25.1-34.7)] while OSA alone was present in 24 [6.8%; (95% CI 4.2-9.5)] subjects and the syndrome Z was present in 70 [19.9%; (95% CI 15.8-24.1)] subjects. Median ages of normal subjects, and subjects with MS, OSA and syndrome Z were 40, 43, 43 and 47 yr respectively. Minimum ages of normal subjects, and subjects with MS, OSA and syndrome Z were 30, 30, 32 and 32 yr respectively. Interpretation & Conclusions: When body mass index (BMI) was normal, the increasing median ages of these conditions indicated that the MS may be the first event followed by OSA and eventually syndrome Z develops. With BMI >25 or >30 no clear-cut difference was noted, indicating that the BMI itself could have an independent role in MS, OSA and syndrome Z

Transvaginal sonographic cervical length assessment in predicting the outcome of induction of labor

Background: The aim of the study was to assess Bishop Score in women undergoing induction of labor followed by cervical length measurement by transvaginal sonography and to study the role of transvaginal sonographic cervical assessment in predicting outcome of induction of labor.Methods: This was a prospective observational study carried out in 300 pregnancy women undergoing induction of labor. In all the women, Bishop score was calculated by per vaginal examination and cervical length assessed by transvaginal ultrasound, both prior to induction of laborResults: This study has demonstrated that in singleton pregnancies undergoing induction of labor at 37-41 weeks of gestation, successful vaginal delivery within 24hrs of induction occurred in 66.8%. The study has also demonstrated that induction to delivery interval is significantly associated with both the preinduction Bishop score and sonographically measured cervical length, higher the Bishop score and lesser the cervical length, better the likelihood of vaginal delivery within 24 hrs of induction. The best cutoff point for successful induction was ≥3 for Bishop score and ≤2.5 cm for cervical length, which was obtained from the ROC curve.Conclusions: Cervical length assessment by transvaginal ultrasound was a better predictor of successful induction of labor.

Structural, elastic and magnetic properties of spinel Co3O4

We have investigated the structural and magnetic properties of Co3O4 ceramic synthesized by solid state reaction method. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopic and Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) analysis reveals single phase formation at room temperature. Analysis of XRD data indicates that the Co3O4 crystallizes in cubic symmetry with face-centered cubic (fcc) Bravais lattice. Force constants and elastic properties have been estimated at room temperature using XRD and FTIR spectra and interpreted in terms of bond lengths. An octahedral broadening of the FTIR band (vo) and large force constant (ko) has been observed and indicated the inverse proportionality relationship between the force constant and the bond length. The elastic moduli and Poisson’s ratio uncorrected and corrected to zero porosity reveals the solidification of the Co3O4 ceramic sample. The field cooled (FC) and zero field cooled (ZFC) magnetization measurements using superconducting quantum interface device (SQUID) magnetometer exhibit a well-defined long-range antiferromagnetic order below transition (TN = 40 K) temperature

Geometry Meets Vectors: Approximation Algorithms for Multidimensional Packing

We study the generalized multidimensional bin packing problem (GVBP) that generalizes both geometric packing and vector packing. Here, we are given $n$ rectangular items where the $i^{\textrm{th}}$ item has width $w(i)$, height $h(i)$, and $d$ nonnegative weights $v_1(i), v_2(i), \ldots, v_{d}(i)$. Our goal is to get an axis-parallel non-overlapping packing of the items into square bins so that for all $j \in [d]$, the sum of the $j^{\textrm{th}}$ weight of items in each bin is at most 1. This is a natural problem arising in logistics, resource allocation, and scheduling. Despite being well studied in practice, surprisingly, approximation algorithms for this problem have rarely been explored. We first obtain two simple algorithms for GVBP having asymptotic approximation ratios $6(d+1)$ and $3(1 + \ln(d+1) + \varepsilon)$. We then extend the Round-and-Approx (R&A) framework [Bansal-Khan, SODA'14] to wider classes of algorithms, and show how it can be adapted to GVBP. Using more sophisticated techniques, we obtain better approximation algorithms for GVBP, and we get further improvement by combining them with the R&A framework. This gives us an asymptotic approximation ratio of $2(1+\ln((d+4)/2))+\varepsilon$ for GVBP, which improves to $2.919+\varepsilon$ for the special case of $d=1$. We obtain further improvement when the items are allowed to be rotated. We also present algorithms for a generalization of GVBP where the items are high dimensional cuboids

Stipe anatomical studies on selected pteridophytes of South India

Present study is based on the stipe anatomy of 13 selected species of pteridophytes of South India. Detailed description, key to the taxa based on stipe anatomy, photographs and descriptions are provided

Predisposing factors and clinical profile of acute severe asthma

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the lung airways resulting in episodic airflow obstruction. It is also one of the leading causes of morbidity in children and hospital admissions. Current treatments, although helpful, are still unable to prevent childhood asthma exacerbations completely. Objectives: To study the clinical profile and predisposing factors for acute severe asthma in children. Methods: This prospective study was conducted between January 2015 and December 2015 in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Children between the age group of 5 and 18 years admitted with symptoms and signs of acute severe asthma formed the study group. Detailed history and examination were recorded in a systematically designed pro forma, and these patients were evaluated for the predisposing factors. Results: Out of 100 children with acute severe asthma, the predominant age group was between 5 and 10 years (68%). Boys are more commonly affected than girls in the ratio of 1:1.2. The most common predisposing factors were family history of asthma (60%), atopy (32%), and dermatitis (23%). The common risk factors responsible for acute exacerbations were viral infections (83%), poor drug compliance (68%), and exposure to house dust (61%). 55% of the children had acute exacerbation during the winter season. The common comorbid conditions were rhinosinusitis (35%), obesity (23%), and gastroesophageal reflux (9%). Eosinophilia was seen in 62% of the children with acute severe asthma. Conclusion: In the present study, majority of the asthmatics were males and belonged to urban area. Viral infections were the predominant factor for exacerbations and others like family, and previous history of atopy/allergic rhinitis/dermatitis, food allergy, indoor and outdoor pollution, seasonal variations, and comorbid conditions like obesity and rhinosinusitis were the common predisposing risk factors